A19 reopens after van fire

THE A19 has been reopened near Thirsk after a van fire caused it to be closed in both directions.

The transit van was seen in flames at about 11.30pm on the southbound carriageway near its junction with the A684 at Ellerbeck, and crews from Northallerton, Thirsk and Stokesley are at the scene.

As the vehicle is fuelled by liquified petroleum gas, a 50-metre exclusion zone was set up around the scene and both carriageways were closed. Firefighters have now left the scene and the A19 is open in both directions, but the slip road from the southbound carriageway onto the A684 remains closed.